The African Democratic Congress (ADC) caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the prosecution and removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisanship and compromised neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The caucus made the demand following its inaugural meeting held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, where lawmakers reviewed recent political developments and raised concerns over the credibility of the electoral body.
In a strongly worded resolution, the lawmakers accused Amupitan of actions and statements they said were inconsistent with the expectations of an impartial electoral umpire.
They cited allegations linking him to a personal X (formerly Twitter) account said to have expressed support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and controversial commentary on national issues.
Although INEC has denied any connection to the account, the ADC caucus insisted that digital forensic claims and online investigations raise serious questions about the chairman’s neutrality.
The lawmakers warned that failure to address the allegations could undermine public trust and compromise the integrity of the 2027 general elections.
They also accused INEC of interfering in ADC’s internal affairs by recognising what they described as an illegitimate faction, while backing a rival leadership structure led by former Senate President, David Mark.
According to the caucus, such actions amount to a breach of INEC’s constitutional duty as an independent electoral body and could destabilise democratic processes.
The lawmakers further alleged possible collusion between some INEC officials and judicial actors in relation to a pending court case involving the party’s leadership dispute scheduled for April 14, 2026.
They vowed to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over alleged judicial compromise and called for investigations into judges accused of political bias.
Citing provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the caucus also warned against what it described as judicial overreach in internal party matters.
However, in a contrasting development, residents of Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area staged a solidarity rally in support of the INEC chairman, describing him as a man of integrity.
Over 1,000 youths reportedly participated in the rally, carrying placards praising Amupitan and urging critics to allow him focus on his duties.
Leaders of the community, including the President of the Ayetoro Gbede Development Association, Samuel Olorunmaiye, and Youth Leader Elijah Babatunde, dismissed the allegations against the INEC boss as politically motivated.
They urged Nigerians to disregard what they described as a campaign of distraction, insisting that Amupitan remains a respected academic and administrator capable of delivering credible elections in 2027.
INEC has continued to deny any link between its chairman and the controversial online account, maintaining that no verified evidence supports the allegations.
